Month: May 2018

May 31, Reading 1 – Deuteronomy 10:12-11:32

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

To fear the Lord our God is to love Him! This fear is different from craven fear – it encompasses awe, respect, reverence. The phrase: our God is a burning fire, has the same meaning for fear – a healthy respect. Is your respect of God healthy or unhealthy?

SJA Notes

* Dear God, the heavens declare Your glory, the sky above proclaims Your handiwork – What a God You are!

“Yet the LORD set his heart in love on your fathers and chose their offspring after them, you above all peoples, as you are this day.”

Here, deep in the Old Testament, we read a clear pointer to Jesus and the new covenant He would bring in.

We read here of a God, a Heavenly Father, who even though He is Lord of all creation has set His heart in love for His people – what a thing this is!

The old covenant is one of circumcision of the body.

This was only ever a pointer to a better, deeper, fuller covenant – One of the heart.

“Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.”

Oh that our hearts would be circumcised, no longer stubborn.

This is what Jesus does for us.

In Jeremiah 31 we read the Lord’s words on the new covenant,

“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.”

We were stubborn and hard of heart, but God called us and brought us into Himself in Jesus.

God broke our hard hearts, He circumcised the foreskin of our hearts and dissolved the stubborn refusal to acknowledge Him as Lord and Saviour.

This is what Moses wants for Israel – He preaches to them with such clarity.

What else have we to do but as Moses wanted, as the Lord calls us to – To walk in obedience to our King, the One who called us from darkness into light!

* Heavenly Father,

You have chosen us in Your love, giving us new hearts upon which You write Your word.

Thank You Lord!

Please fix our eyes on You this day.

Amen.

May 31, Reading 2 – Song of Solomon 1:1-2:7

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

In New Testament times, you had to be over 18 years of age before you were allowed to read this book. This meant that you were most likely married too. God never wrote a marriage manual for us, but He did cause to be written this love poem. It celebrates the joys of marriage and of sex within marriage. To understand the poetic metaphors used, you must SEE or PICTURE the various scenes or illustrations. This book is meant for couples to read out loud to each other the appropriate parts.

SJA Notes

* Loving God, thank You for Your love to us that we see so clearly in Jesus.

“Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.”

Song of Solomon is a book that can sometimes feel difficult to apply in life.

In one sense it is an exclusive piece of content, specifically for marriage. Important to read and wrestle with for men and women through their married life.

But this is God’s word. Beneficial for all of God’s people across all of life (single, married, widowed).

And with this lens, the book points us to Jesus.

God’s word tells us that He is the groom and the church is the bride.

As with our earthly marriages, so with Jesus.

Our love is to be of exultation and rejoicing!

When at times it is hard to “feel”, we can find comfort and strength in faithfulness.

“Behold, you are beautiful, my love; behold, you are beautiful; your eyes are doves.”

Over time, little by little, layer upon layer, year after year – Taking time to remember, to grow day by day – This is protection and sustenance in God’s good order.

Protection as we covenant together with Him. Our thoughts being more and more brought into line with His, towards what true active love is in God’s design.

And sustenance, because we all grow tired each day, reminding us to remember and actively call out the beauty of our beloved is beneficial and important and gives nourishment!

* Gracious Father,

Thank You for marriage here on earth, between and man and a woman, covenanting together in You.

Thank You for Jesus, the groom to the church as bridegroom. Jesus, who keeps both sides of the covenant between God and man, His faithful witness exhorting us onwards.

Thank You for the day to come when,

“… For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure …”

We long for Your return – Come Lord Jesus, come!

Amen.

May 31, Reading 3 – Luke 9:18-36

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

When Peter finally comes to the point of seeing who Jesus is, Jesus begins to teach immediately about His death. Think on this: Moses gets into the Promised Land through and with Jesus!

SJA Notes

* Dear God, please shine the light of Your word into our lives today.

“This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

What does God want of us?

To listen to Jesus!

“This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

In a similar fashion to when Jesus was baptised in the river by His earthly cousin, here God the Father speaks from the heavens.

God speaks to Jesus’ disciples, who were pretty stressed out at the miraculous events they just witnessed.

Listen to Jesus!

This is for us today.

Let’s be encouraged to hearken to our King – To hear what Jesus tells us and do what He tells us.

* Gracious Lord God,

Thank You for Jesus, God in the person of the Son, our King and Lord and Saviour.

Please help us to listen to Him today.

Amen.